[b]issues with support groups[/b]

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General question directed at adolescents in HS and college students--would you be willing to be part of a support group/group that tackled and would help in development of social skills---if yes, what what could be done to make such a group more appealing and worthwhile (issues to be disscused, ideas...) ---if no, what are some reasons why you would not want to attend or be part of such a group?

Hi! I am Ghosthunter, and welcome to WrongPlanet!
Are you a psychologist? If so cool! I like the idea
of a support group, though I am neither in HS
and will be attending college later this year
if all goes well in my current journey!



Let's not limit it to the young. I could say that alot
of people would be interested. Are you a psychogist
or Psych' Major? If so, you may get some resistance
because that is how my instincts are reading this.

But getting back to your topic! I am 39, and find
that their are no support groups for the recently
outed "of autism unawareness" and the young
subjected to med's meant for other purposes than
autism. Autism is lifelong neurologically there
not a labeling for pre-autism treatments fill in
the blank, because we(professionals)are clueless
what to do about autism. Let's not treat autism
like pre-autism bi-polarism druggings, ect.... so
these(I think your one of them?) we can feel
we can sweep it under some "enveloped"
carpet. If I am wrong and offended you, I will
appologize. The way you wrote this topic
makes me wonder what is your motive?

Hmmmmm? If it is support groups! Cool!
If it is just fishing like these others have done,
Not cool.




1)...address autism as a state of mind! not a medication
guinea pig!! !! !

2)...allow open expression, not suppression! this is why
the folks harbour here in the first place. They seek
communication!

3)...Understanding the reasons internally, and
externally regarding the issues(abuses by others,
ect....) to allow free flow of understanding.

This is all I can think of for now! Hmmmmm?





Quite simply, one wouldn't want to be a medications
for other non-related to Autism pill-pushed guinea
pig and if you convince them young you then create
a new business under the WRONG REASONS!

Autism is neurological, not medications for non-related
disorders for pharmacudicals profit PLEASURE

HMMMM? If I am mistaken for your true purpose!
I will appologize



Hmmmmmm? If I am following my instincts
correctly(they aren't always perfect!)

Yes, I was, and did, for the last few months of college before I graduated. It would have been worth it just for the chance to meet other people on the spectrum in real life, but I also got a lot of useful information and social practice by going.

A couple suggestions:
People in the group bringing in topics that are relevant to their life at that moment. Example: role-play job interviews to help someone who needs to get a job.
Have the therapist/mediator start off conversations and keep them going when the members falter socially, but have the members control the direction of conversation as much as they want.

hey just to clear some things up--I'm a 24 year old Grad student in Clinical Psychology in California---along with my clinical supervisor we wanted to create a support group (nothing to do with medications) in the San Fernando Valley for HS and College Students with Asperger's that would focus on developing and helping in the area of relational skills/and related subjects. since we are just starting off we wanted to get some general feedback on what made a group worthwhile/ as well as what may not have been so appealing for people who have been part of such endeavours.
---sorry that my first post was somewhat cryptic

I would be interested! Sorry about my harshness!
I am more outspoken than most! And there are
people on this site that would react just the same
but not be so clear about it! PM on the specifics
since I am travelling for a bit on Greyhound and
would like to make a connection with you on
this topic! Cool! and a "Friendly" welcome
to WrongPlanet!

Sincerely,
Ghosthunter

If you can only do one thing right, make sure the people running the group respect the members as equals. Don't turn it into a teacher-student relationship. Autism is a condition, not a disability, and people don't need to be pitied or talked down to. With the level of discrepancy between intelligence and social skills that you find on the spectrum, it can be easy to assume that just because a person is not speaking well, that they are ret*d. We are far from ret*d.

One example: One of the two counsellors running the support group I went to had a penchant for downtalk. One night the group went to laser tag as an icebreaker. (My suggestion, because I knew the physical activity would break people through who were used to keeping tight control of their minds and bodies so as not to make obvious social mistakes; don't assume that everyone on the spectrum has no concept of group dynamics simply because they cannot apply it in real time.) Afterwards this counsellor said "So what can laser tag teach us about teamwork?" with the air of a teacher addressing a third grade class, expecting an answer like "Well if everyone learns to get along, the team does better." Puke. I've been using the battlefield as a metaphor for understanding human interaction for most of my conscious life. I spent the game mapping people's personalities through their tactics, their decisions to advance or retreat, their reaction to the abrupt atmosphere switch from the normal world to the high-adrenalin sci-fi dystopia in the game. (ie. those who laugh uncomfortably in an attempt to bring back normalcy cannot be trusted, those who immediately embrace and dive into the game, can.)

Ok... rant over. Just please make sure the people in the group feel like human beings, not like statistical anomalies that need to be cured.

Your presence is neccessary on the "Wet Cat Adventure"
(important!) as the cat is escaping and....!

I take it you had a badddd! experience?



This is true!




Though I have no personal experience
with groupings like this, I whole heartedly
agree! Can you explain some of the experiences?



This word is a bit open-ended, how would you
describe downtalking?




I like this idea of icebreaking laser tag. They
use to have one near the only movie theatre
in Mountain View, I forgot it's name, but it
was a dark room with fun places to zap and
hide, and the occasional cheater!

You put on this cool body and head gear!
and go at it for points earned.

"Laser Quest" is the name I think?




Not to feel self-conscious(me-G.H) am I that
bad?????????????? I hope not!



You are just like me, I would analyze things!



Duhhhh! which way do I go? Just kidding! I am
not good at telling jokes. Sorry

But I do whole heartedly agree!

Sincerely,
Ghosthunter